The Parisians beat the Spanish side Girona on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes to begin their C1 campaign.
PSG took their time. A lot of time… Facing Girona, a team without its best players after surprising Spain last season, Luis Enrique’s men finally won 1-0 on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes to kick off their Champions League campaign. A victory that confirmed their good form at the start of the season, with four league wins already under their belt. And this even if the scenario was not exactly what we expected, with this late goal from Mendes (90th) and the kind participation of the opposing goalkeeper, Gazzaniga. A gift… The visitors considerably hampered a PSG that had been harmless for a long time and who are very happy to come away with the three points.
No worries in terms of domination, it was there from the start. However, we had to wait until the 11th minute to see the first Parisian strike, by Zaire-Emery. Off target. Moreover, PSG didn’t target any during a soporific first half, with very clean Spaniards, tactically in place and strong in the duels. After this strike from Asensio which licked the post, following a backheel from “WZE”, not much to get your teeth into… Not enough intensity, aggressiveness (16 duels won to 24), risk-taking on the Parisian side (0-0 MT).
Dembélé eats the sheet, Gazzaniga sabotages his team
Better in these areas at the restart. A little. Several skirmishes. Nothing as dangerous as this header from Stuani which pushed Safonov to pull out all the stops (57th). Which Safonov was playing his first game in Paris, in relay from Donnarumma, injured. An opportunity in the form of a wake-up call for the Red and Blue, finally dangerous, with Dembélé going on the counter from the center circle and who ate the sheet, forgetting Barcola (54th). Dembélé moved up a gear and saw his left-footed shot go out of the top corner by Gazzaniga (62nd), while Kolo Muani, who came on in place of Asensio, injured in the first half (38th), placed a good header from a corner (71st). Doué, Lee and Neves were sent into the fire (63rd). But nothing worked. Something was always missing, a flame, a spark.
Combative, Kolo Muani still saw the frame escape him (83rd). Time was running out. He was playing in favor of Girona, who were discovering Europe. Gazzaniga intervened at close range in front of Hakimi (85th). Girona FC on a wire. And who finally folded on a ball poorly caught by Gazzaniga, on a cross-shot from Mendes (1-0, 90th). Cruel for the Catalans, who held their exploit. Warning without cost for PSG (1-0 final score). Next meeting? A (short) trip to Reims, Saturday (9 p.m.), during the fifth day of Ligue 1. As for Europe, Paris will challenge Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on October 1st. A much tougher challenge…
